Korean shows picked at 'European Emmies'

Five Korean programs have been nominated for awards at the 48th Monte-Carlo Television Festival.

Slated to run from June 8 to 12, the festival -- regarded as the European Emmies -- has been selecting the best of worldwide television programming since 1961, after it was founded by Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

This year, Korea is making its mark at this international event, receiving nominations for five out of eight programming categories.

Among the five nominations, MBC managed to nab three, with its cable series "BSG Police" (ByeolSunGeom) and drama "Coffee Prince" as strong contenders for the best TV series categories. Four "BSG Police" cast members -- Ryoo Seung-yong, On Joo-wan, Ahn Nae-sang and Park Hyo-joo -- are also up for the best outstanding actor and actress awards.

Cable series "BSG Police", a Korean take on CSI set in the Joseon Dynasty, was nominated for best drama, while the hit series "Coffee Prince", starring celebrities Yoon Eun-hye and Gong Yoo, nabbed a nomination for best comedy.

But fellow nominees NBC's "Heroes" and "The Office" promise to give these TV series a run for their money.

MBC landed its third nomination for the category of best news documentary. "The Mystery of Hankook Tire" from the popular news issue series "News Magazine 2580" is up for the award.

KBS garnered the final two nominations, outperforming SBS, for the categories of best television film and best miniseries. KBS' film "A Dwarf Launches a Small Ball", based on a famous novel of the same title, and its miniseries "Conspiracy in the Court", a drama set during the colonial period, managed to capture the attention of the jury with its deep look into Korean society and politics.

By Jean Oh